From CellBiology
Revision as of 22:49, 20 March 2017 by Z5061522 (talk | contribs)

Welcome to Cell Biology 2017!

Lab 1 Assessment

Lab 2 Assessment


Lab 3 Assessment - Endo/Exo worksheet questions.

Lab 4 Assessment

  1. Identify a cytoskeletal antibody.
  2. Identify the species deriving the antibody.
  3. Identify the working concentration for the antibody.
  5. Identify a paper that has used this antibody.


Lab 7 Assessment


Your answer should be pasted in 2 places

  2. your own individual student page for my assessment.



Group Assessment Criteria

  3. Content is correctly cited and referenced.

Practical Attendance



Individual Assessments

Lab 1

Silver-intensified cationic gold nanoparticle on cell membrane.png




Lab 2

Part 1:



1. Flame (GHS02): Flammable

2. Exclamation Mark (GHS07): Acute Toxicity, Skin & Eye Irritant, Skin Sensitisation, Specific Target Organ Toxicity

3. Health Hazard (GHS08): Respiratory Sensitization, Germ Cell Mutagenicity, Carcinogenicity, Reproductive Toxicity, Specific Target Organ Toxicity, Aspiration Hazard

Website Address/Link:

Part 2:

Article 1:

Article Title: Resveratrol and curcumin enhance pancreatic β-cell function by inhibiting phosphodiesterase activity

Article Description: The key aim of this study is to determine the relationship between pancreatic β-cell function, resveratrol (RES) and curcumin (CUR), to examine whether or not RES and CUR enhances pancreatic β-cell function. RES and CUR are polyphenols, found predominately within fruits and turmeric, which have been previously reported to contain medicinal properties that are beneficial to diabetes mellitus patients. Previously published studies claim that the therapeutic properties of RES and CUR can be attributed to their anti-inflammatory effects and protection against β-cell dysfunction. This study thus seeks to examine such reported phenomenon by examining the mechanism/s of action of RES and CUR in β-cells. Results indicate that RES and CUR regulate insulin secretion under glucose-stimulated conditions, and increase intracellular levels of cAMP, which plays an important role in insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell health. The study also showcases that RES and CUR inhibit the activity of phosphodiesterases, which degrade cAMP. The polyphenols RES and CUR thus indeed enhance pancreatic β-cell function and have therapeutic benefits to diabetic patients.

Article Reference: <pubmed>25297556</pubmed>

Article 2:

Article Title: Ultrastructural Alterations of Pancreatic Beta Cells in Human Diabetes Mellitus

Article Description: The aim of this article is to investigate the correlation between pancreatic beta cells and diabetes mellitus, within humans. This is done by focusing on the ultrastructural alterations of beta cells in human diabetes. Throughout the study, beta cells have been retrieved from the pancreas of eight non-diabetic, five type 1 diabetic and eight type 2 diabetic organ donors, and analysed under morphometric electron microscopy. Results have indicated that lower quantities of beta cells are present in patients suffering type 1 and 2 diabetes, compared to non-diabetic patients. Additionally, insulin granules are more represented in non-diabetic patients than in type 2 diabetic patients, while type 1 diabetic patients show minimal changes. Pancreatic beta cells within diabetic patients have also showcased greater apoptosis than beta cells in non-diabetics. These results are expected to improve therapeutic measures for diabetes.

Article Reference: <pubmed>28303682</pubmed>

Article 3:

Article Title: Impairment of pancreatic β-cell function by chronic intermittent hypoxia

Article Description: The central purpose of this study is to demonstrate the link between chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) and pancreatic β-cell function. Via experimentation on rodents, the results of this study indicate that mitochondrial oxidative stress, which is produced by CIH, causes decreased pancreatic β-cell function, or increased pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. This is demonstrated by augmented basal insulin secretion, insulin resistance, defective proinsulin processing and impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. This study thus contains direct evidence that CIH impacts β-cell function. As CIH is a hallmark of sleep apnoea, this study also indicates that CIH-impacted β-cell dysfunction could be a possible contributor to type 2 diabetes within sleep apnoea patients. It thus encourages possible future research in this area.

Article Reference: <pubmed>23709585</pubmed>

Article 4:

Article Title: Protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B modulates pancreatic β-cell mass

Article Description: The goal of this study is to analyse the action/s of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), which is an endoplasmic reticulum bound phosphatase that has been previously documented to negatively regulate insulin signalling, in pancreatic islets. Through experimental procedures on rodents and morphometric analysis of their pancreatic cells, the results of this study indicate that mice with PTP1B exhibit increased β-cell area, higher β-cell proliferation and decreased β-cell apoptosis, compared to their wild-type counterparts. This study thus sheds light on the involvement of PTP1B in β-cell physiology, and encourages the potential of PTP1B as a therapeutical target for the treatment of β-cell failure, which is characteristic of type 2 diabetes.

Article Reference: <pubmed>24587334</pubmed>

Tutorial 1


Human R3 RPTP members.png

Student Image Template

Reference Styles: or PubMed

Search Plasma Membrane

PMID: 28260084 NO LINK

PMID 28260084 LINK



Tutorial 2



Biological Hazards of Toluene:

1. Flammable

2. Acute Toxicity; Skin Irritant, Eye Irritant

3. Respiratory Sensitization, Germ Cell Mutagenicity, Carcinogenicity, Reproductive Toxicity

2017 Course Content



2017 Laboratories: Introduction to Lab | Fixation and Staining |

